Late tribal aquaculture champion's daughter helps maintain his legacy
Jaiden Grinnel Bosick appointed president of memorial foundation
A scholarship foundation established in memory of Native American aquaculture advocate Kurt Grinnell has appointed one of his daughters as its new president.
Jaiden Grinnell Bosick, who fishes commercially in Alaska, will not only lead the 12-person board but will continue to direct the foundation’s scholarship selection committee, a role she has filled since the organisation was founded.
The Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (KGASF) is a nonprofit organisation established in 2022 to carry out the legacy of the Kurt Grinnell, a leader and Council member of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Washington state, who passed away in 2021. It awards scholarships to indigenous people interested in pursuing a career in aquaculture.
Vital role
“We are pleased that Jaiden has accepted this vital leadership role,” said former board president, John Dentler. “Jaiden embodies the commitment to educational opportunities for Indigenous communities that was such an important part of Kurt Grinnell’s vision.”
Bosick said she welcomed the opportunity to guide the organisation at a critical time when food sovereignty and food security have become issues of vital importance to Tribes and First Nations.
“I am honoured that the board has entrusted me with the responsibility of assisting members of Indigenous communities who seek to further their education in natural resources, fisheries, and aquaculture,” she said.
Seven scholarships
Since 2022, the KGASF has awarded seven scholarships to Tribal and First Nations students totalling $50,000 (£40,000). To date, scholarship recipients have come from various Indigenous communities, including US federally recognised Tribes from Michigan, Alaska, California, and Washington State, and Canadian First Nations from Ontario, Canada. Bosick said: “My father would be proud, not only of these scholars, but also of our Foundation’s efforts and accomplishments.”
The organisation has also added three new board members: Matt Deines, chief executive of First Federal Bank, headquartered in Port Angeles, Washington; M Scarlett Tudor, education and outreach coordinator at the University of Maine in Orono; and Teri King, regional aquaculture coordinator for Oregon and Washington, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in Washington state.
The Foundation is now accepting applications for 2024.
Applications are open between May 15 and October 15 each year and can be made here.
For more information, contact John Dentler john.dentler@gmail.com.
